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The Hingham Veterans Council
Hingham, MA
The following represents the meeting of The Hingham Veterans Council held, Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and was called to order at 1931 hours.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the meeting was called to order by Keith Jermyn, The Town of Hingham's Veterans Agent, with the following committee members present: B. Beal, S. Bray, A. McCawley, J. McHugh, S. McMillan, H. Messmer, W. Ramsey, A. Smith, L. St. Laurent, E. Sofis The chairman effected excused absences for the following committee members: J. Claypoole. and J. Weggeman. M. Demenna was absent. This is a 15 member Board by statute.
The minutes, as sent by email, were read from the last meeting and a motion was made to approve, seconded, and the minutes were then accepted as submitted.
Treasurer M. Demenna was an absentee as noted above. The Veterans in Need Fund has a balance of $2080.81; The Veteran's Fund is $782.68, 2 gift cards bought for 2 Veteran families among other items,
Steve Kelsch & his wife were present to personally thank the Council for Annual Award presented to Steve for outstanding contributions & leadership in Veterans activities. They received an enthusiastic ovation.
The Blue Star Report is a continuing successful program and Veterans continue to be listed in The Hingham Journal.
The Presidents Fitness Test on Sunday, October 9, 2011 was a great event.
The timely construction of FBMS Veterans Home in Hingham continues and the name will be CDR Paul Anderson, a Veteran who passed in 2007. The name has been officially sent to Fr. Bill's.
Andrew Kuzincki sent a thank you note for the Certificate and $200.00 check for VUB.
The Memorial Day Speaker will be Col. Frank Curtis, 28 years in the Service. Details continue to develop. As usual, this will be a huge event for Hingham and transferring the ceremony to the Harbor is being planned. Past Memorial Day ceremonies have been held there and a return would indeed be timely.
The Warrant Articles will be in the Warrant for May 2012 and enacted by the Town and will include The POW Excise Tax Exemption, MGL Ch.60A, s.1. and The Property Tax Exemption, Local Option, Clause 56, 2010 Municipal relief Act.
There is an award to provide the financial cost to present to the Speaker.
There is an Ethics on-line Training with J. McHugh, B Beal, H. Messmer, M. Demenna.
There was no correspondence.
A special committee The Seaman Herbert L. Foss Committee is being formed with the following: Selectman B. Rabuffo, J. Claypoole, A. Smith, K. Jermyn for the purpose of naming a special location in Town for our only Medal of Honor recipient. This is an ongoing project.
Military Families of Deployed and Fallen Veterans are being visited by our Veteran's Agent and K. Jermyn wishes to actively and enthusiastically support this organization.
B.Beal reported meeting with J. O'Brien (Special Assistant to J. Yazinski, of Fr. Bill's) and K. Jermyn visiting Veterans homes. It was reported that in Massachusetts 2.1% of our Veterans are Homeless.
A. McCauley reported there will be a Homeless meeting on Thursday for all interested parties to discuss At Risk of Homelessness and Suicide. More later.
The meeting was adjourned, at 2100 hours.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ernest C. Sofis, Secretary
January 27, 2011